The Gift of Singleness

I am back at school for my two work weeks before the semester starts on January 17th. I've decided that I'm going to spend these two weeks reading books and catching up on things I've been putting off for a while, like reading a daily devotional.
This last week I've been reading a book on the Philippines for my trip in April. So tonight after my movie ended I decided I should start reading another book. This book is called, Did I Kiss Marriage Goodbye? Trusting God with a Hope Deferred. It's by Carolyn McCulley. I'm not exactly struggling with this topic right now, but I am struggling with being content with where I'm at in life. Over the break I realized how I had forgotten what it was like to be content because of my busy semester.

Anyway, a couple of things stuck out me as I read.

"Without the context and the eternal purpose of the church, singleness can seem like the waiting room of adulthood"(McCulley, 2004).

"I've often heard married people say to singles that we won't get married until we're content in our singleness, but I humbly submit this is error. I'm sure that it is offered by well-meaning couples who want to see their single friends happy and content in God's provision, but it creates a work-based mentality to receiving gifts, which can lead to condemnation. The Lord doesn't require that we attain a particular state before He grants a gift. We can't earn any particular spiritual gift any more than we can earn our salvation. It's all of grace. However, we should humbly listen to our friends and receive their input about cultivating contentment; we just shouldn't attach it to the expectation of a blessing" (McCulley, 2004).

It is so true. I think God is trying to tell me something. Yesterday our Pastor taught on patience in things with life. A verse from Hebrews continues to stick out at me.

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us." Hebrews 12:1

In my mind I am ready to be done with nursing school. But then I peek into my Pathophysiology book and I see how much I don't know about medicine. I have so much to learn, but I pray that I will seek it all with patience.

On my desk I have a scratch peice of paper with names of random songs I have heard over the last semester. I saw it tonight as I was putting away my books and this song was at the bottom of the list.



Happy 2012, friends. May you strive to glorify God in all that you do.